Subaru B9 Tribeca and Forester Rank High in Safety Ratings

Subaru B9 Tribeca Receives 4-Star Rollover Resistance Safety Rating from NHTSA

Subaru Forester Earns Top Rating from IIHS for Rear Crash Protection

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan. 24 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca, the all-new progressive SUV from Subaru, earned a 4-star rating in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests for rollover resistance (to date, no SUV has received a 5-star rollover rating). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Subaru Forester a "Good" rating, the Institute's highest rating, for protection against whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision, the only vehicle in its class to earn this distinction.

"The 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca is already a standout in the mid-size SUV category with the highest 5-star front and side crash test ratings," said Fred Adcock, executive vice president, Subaru of America, Inc. "Adding the 4-star rollover resistance safety ratings to its list of safety accolades further demonstrates the Subaru commitment to safety."

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) provides consumers with vehicle safety information, longstanding front and side crash test results, and more recently, rollover resistance ratings to aid consumers in their vehicle purchase decisions. The test results are relayed to consumers via an easily recognizable star rating system - from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the highest. Vehicle rollover ratings combine both the stationary (at-rest) measurement known as the Static Stability Factor (SSF) and the tip or no tip results of the dynamic maneuvering rollover test. The tests are done to compare vehicles and the results can be found at http://www.safercar.gov/.

The Subaru B9 Tribeca is very stable due to its longitudinally mounted boxer engine, which provides a low center of gravity. Combined with Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and standard Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability control, it results in a feeling of stability and safety not common in the mid-size SUV segment.

Forester Earns Good Rating in Rear Crash Protection

Subaru Forester was the only vehicle in its class rated "Good" for protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end crashes. Overall, only 6 vehicles of the 44 recently tested by IIHS received a "Good" rating, the highest rating awarded by IIHS.

"The Subaru Forester has a longstanding reputation for outstanding safety," said Adcock. "The standard front seat active head restraints afford occupant protection not found in European SUVs that are twice the price. This most recent top rating from the IIHS further validates the Forester 'Best Pick' designation."

The IIHS evaluates seat/head restraints through dynamic tests on a movable platform using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This sled test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear by a vehicle of the same weight going 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated "Poor" overall because they cannot be positioned to protect people of different sizes in rear-end crashes.

The Institute's dynamic ratings of "Good," "Acceptable," "Marginal," or "Poor" are derived from two seat design parameters (peak acceleration of the dummy's torso and time from impact initiation to head restraint contact with the dummy's head) plus neck tension and shear forces recorded on the BioRID dummy during the test. The sooner a restraint contacts the dummy's head and the lower the acceleration of the torso and the forces on the dummy's neck, the better the dynamic rating. A seat/head restraint's dynamic rating is combined with its geometric rating to produce an overall rating.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru makes the best-selling All-Wheel Drive car sold in America based on R.L. Polk & Co. new vehicle retail registration statistics calendar year-end 2004. For additional information visit http://www.subaru.com/.